Erica multiflora extract rich in quercetin-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside alleviates high fat and fructose diet-induced fatty liver disease by modulating metabolic and inflammatory pathways in Wistar rats.

The wide morbidity of obesity has heightened interest in providing natural and safe compounds to maintain optimal health. The present study was designed to determine the chemical constituents and the effects of methanol leaf extract from Erica multiflora (M-EML) on mitigating high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD)-induced metabolic syndrome (MS). LC-MS/MS characterization of M-EML allowed the identification of 14 secondary metabolites and showed that quercetin-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside were the main compounds of our extract. In the in vivo study, the oral administration of M-EML (250 mg/kg) during the last 4 weeks of the experimentation alleviated HFFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, M-EML treatment significantly normalized body and liver weight, allowed to a sharp decline in plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-c by 32%, 35% and 66%, respectively. Moreover, hepatic enzymes, total and direct bilirubin, lipase and uric acid levels have been diminished in treated group. Histopathology of the liver confirmed the changes induced by HFFD and the hepatoprotective effect of M-EML. The supply of M-EML reduced NO production and cellular lysosomal enzyme activity by 44% and 60%, respectively compared to HFFD. Besides, M-EML showed decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (259.5±47.35 pg/ml and 56.08±1.56 pg/ml) of TNF-α and IL-6, respectively. In addition, M-EML reduced liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. In contrast, these enzymatic activities have been disrupted in HFFD rats. Overall, M-EML prevented obesity through the modulation of metabolic syndrome, reducing inflammation and promoting antioxidant enzymes activities.

Pituranthos chloranthus Oil as an Antioxidant-Based Adjuvant Therapy against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

The therapeutic outcome of cisplatin is limited due to its adverse side effects in normal tissues. Despite its potent antineoplastic effect, cisplatin is known by a relevant collateral action, for instance, acute renal failure. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Pituranthos chloranthus (PC) essential oil for contracting cisplatin-induced toxicity, in Balb/c mice. The standard mouse model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI), consisting of one intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (20 mg/kg), was adopted. Mice were pretreated by intraperitoneal administration of PC (5 and 10 mg/Kg b.w) for one week. Cisplatin induced alteration in renal and liver functions, evidenced by increased serum biomarkers levels (creatinine, ALT, and AST). Significant mitigation of cisplatin-induced toxicity was confirmed by lowered levels of serum biomarkers and reduced DNA damage in liver and kidney. PC also restored the alterations in oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ level. Overall, this study provides, for the first time, that PC can be applied as an antioxidant-adjuvant treatment to mitigate cisplatin-induced renal failure.

Methanolic extract of Ephedra alata ameliorates cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity through reducing oxidative stress and genotoxicity.

Cisplatin (CP) is a powerful anticancer agent used in the treatment of a diverse type of cancers. Oxidative stress is one of the most important side effects limiting the use of cisplatin. The protective effects of methanolic extract (ME) and ephedrine (EP), major compound, of Ephedra alata on CP-induced damages were here assessed. Treatment with CP-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity characterized by biochemical alterations. In fact, using CP reduced significantly glutathione (GSH) levels, enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Nonetheless, CP-treatment induced DNA damage at renal, hepatic, and blood cells and increased interferon gamma (IFNγ) level in serum. Co-treatments of mice with ME normalized relative kidney/body weight, restored biochemical and oxidative stress parameters, reduced DNA damage and IFNγ level. In conclusion, ME exhibited the best protective effect against CP damage compared with ephedrine. This is could be attributed to the presence of polysaccharides, organic acids, flavonoids, and tannins in addition to ephedrine alkaloids. These compounds were reported to play a major role in inhibiting and scavenging free radicals, providing an effective protection against CP- induced oxidative damage. Graphical abstract.

Assessment of hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of medicinal plant Erica multiflora in triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia and liver function repair in rats: A comparison with fenofibrate.

Hyperlipidemia is a serious health threat that has been linked to oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, causing among many other disorders essentially liver disease. The current study was conducted to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of methanol leaf extract from Erica multiflora (M-EML). Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic rats were divided into six groups: control group (CG), hyperlipidemic group (300 mg/kg body weight "BW") (HG), hyperlipidemic group treated with M-EML (150 and 250 mg/kg) (HG + M-EML), normal rats treated with M-EML (250 mg/kg) and fenofibrate-treated group (HG + FF) (65 mg/kg). After 24 h of administration, triton WR-1339 induced a significant increase in lipid profile, atherogenic index (AI) and Coronary Risk Index (CRI) in HG group compared to control group. Furthermore, triton WR-1339 administration induced alteration in the status of pro-inflammatory markers (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, IFN-γ and Nitric oxide production). HG group showed also, a high level of lipid peroxidation, an altered antioxidant enzyme profiles and an increase in DNA damages, in liver. However, orally administration of M-EML mitigates significantly these disorders, proving hence a protective potential against triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia. These findings suggest that M-EML extract could be used as functional foods and natural adjuvant treatment of hyperlipidemia.

Decolorization and phytotoxicity reduction in an innovative anaerobic/aerobic photobioreactor treating textile wastewater.

The potential of a novel anaerobic/aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor for the treatment of synthetic textile wastewater (STWW) was here assessed. Algal-bacterial symbiosis supported total organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous removal efficiencies of 78 ±â€¯2%, 47 ±â€¯2% and 26 ±â€¯2%, respectively, at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8 days. A decrease in the HRT from 8 to 4 and 2 days resulted in a slight decrease in organic carbon and phosphate removal, but a sharp decrease in nitrogen removal. Moreover, an efficient decolorization of 99 ±â€¯1% and 96 ±â€¯3% for disperse orange-3 and of disperse blue-1, respectively, was recorded. The effective STWW treatment supported by the anaerobic/aerobic algal-bacterial photobioreactor was confirmed by the reduction in wastewater toxicity towards Raphanus sativus seed germination and growth. These results highlighted the potential of this innovative algal-bacterial photobioreactor configuration for the treatment of textile wastewater and water reuse.